Riley Gaines

It has stuck with me since. And every time when I was swimming or practicing and I began to, you know, your legs burn, you feel your body filling with lactic acid. You're tired. You're in pain. I thought to myself, pain isn't real. Just a feeling that I'm having. It's fleeting. It's in the moment, but Not real.

It has stuck with me since. And every time when I was swimming or practicing and I began to, you know, your legs burn, you feel your body filling with lactic acid. You're tired. You're in pain. I thought to myself, pain isn't real. Just a feeling that I'm having. It's fleeting. It's in the moment, but Not real.

It's not true. We mere mortals do feel pain. But it's those lessons that I learned when I was young. My dad was right because they have transcended beyond athletics.

It's not true. We mere mortals do feel pain. But it's those lessons that I learned when I was young. My dad was right because they have transcended beyond athletics.

It's not true. We mere mortals do feel pain. But it's those lessons that I learned when I was young. My dad was right because they have transcended beyond athletics.

Um, I'm able to do what I do now with a smile on my face with an incredibly light heart, not worrying, not caring, not feeling anxious or stressed about, um, what we're up against because I know what I'm standing for is the right thing.

Um, I'm able to do what I do now with a smile on my face with an incredibly light heart, not worrying, not caring, not feeling anxious or stressed about, um, what we're up against because I know what I'm standing for is the right thing.

Um, I'm able to do what I do now with a smile on my face with an incredibly light heart, not worrying, not caring, not feeling anxious or stressed about, um, what we're up against because I know what I'm standing for is the right thing.

When I launched the show and then I started, you know, I remember when you like it was a defining moment for me to watch you kind of go off on. It was it was very powerful. It was very fiery, but I needed to see that. So I don't know if you know just how many people you've inspired and influenced since taking that stand.

When I launched the show and then I started, you know, I remember when you like it was a defining moment for me to watch you kind of go off on. It was it was very powerful. It was very fiery, but I needed to see that. So I don't know if you know just how many people you've inspired and influenced since taking that stand.

When I launched the show and then I started, you know, I remember when you like it was a defining moment for me to watch you kind of go off on. It was it was very powerful. It was very fiery, but I needed to see that. So I don't know if you know just how many people you've inspired and influenced since taking that stand.

So we found out in about November of 2021. Actually, let me take you a little further back. So I finished my junior year at University of Kentucky, ultimately placing seventh in the country, which it wasn't the best time, but I was proud of this. You're top eight. You're an All-American. It's a pretty high honor, but I knew I was capable of more.

So we found out in about November of 2021. Actually, let me take you a little further back. So I finished my junior year at University of Kentucky, ultimately placing seventh in the country, which it wasn't the best time, but I was proud of this. You're top eight. You're an All-American. It's a pretty high honor, but I knew I was capable of more.

So we found out in about November of 2021. Actually, let me take you a little further back. So I finished my junior year at University of Kentucky, ultimately placing seventh in the country, which it wasn't the best time, but I was proud of this. You're top eight. You're an All-American. It's a pretty high honor, but I knew I was capable of more.

So it was kind of right then and there that I placed seventh my junior year that I set a goal for my senior year to win a national title. And so... I'm right on pace to achieve this goal. About midway through my senior season, I was ranked third in the nation in the 200 freestyle, trailing the girl in second, a girl I knew very well, by a few one-hundredths of a second.

So it was kind of right then and there that I placed seventh my junior year that I set a goal for my senior year to win a national title. And so... I'm right on pace to achieve this goal. About midway through my senior season, I was ranked third in the nation in the 200 freestyle, trailing the girl in second, a girl I knew very well, by a few one-hundredths of a second.

So it was kind of right then and there that I placed seventh my junior year that I set a goal for my senior year to win a national title. And so... I'm right on pace to achieve this goal. About midway through my senior season, I was ranked third in the nation in the 200 freestyle, trailing the girl in second, a girl I knew very well, by a few one-hundredths of a second.

But the swimmer who was leading the nation by body lengths, might I add, was a swimmer that none of us had ever heard of before. Not me, not my teammates, not my competitors, not my family, not my coaches, none of us. It was the first time we became aware of a swimmer named Leah Thomas. Lots of red flags at the time.

But the swimmer who was leading the nation by body lengths, might I add, was a swimmer that none of us had ever heard of before. Not me, not my teammates, not my competitors, not my family, not my coaches, none of us. It was the first time we became aware of a swimmer named Leah Thomas. Lots of red flags at the time.

But the swimmer who was leading the nation by body lengths, might I add, was a swimmer that none of us had ever heard of before. Not me, not my teammates, not my competitors, not my family, not my coaches, none of us. It was the first time we became aware of a swimmer named Leah Thomas. Lots of red flags at the time.